Sharks Ecotourism Could Double in Next Two Decades, Study Says
Pew calls for shark sanctuary designations based on the new findings

Sharks are worth more alive than dead: A new global analysis finds shark ecotourism, like diving, is a major economic driver for dozens of countries, generating $314 million annually. The Pew Charitable Trusts says shark sanctuary declarations can ... Facebook Twitter Pinterest

The Marshall Islands has been home to one of the world's largest shark sanctuaries since 2011. It's an area of the central Pacific Ocean spanning 1,990,530 square kilometers (768,547 square miles)—nearly four times the landmass of California—in ... Facebook Twitter

Sharks are worth more alive than dead: A new global analysis finds shark ecotourism, like diving, is a major economic driver for dozens of countries, generating $314 million annually. The Pew Charitable Trusts says shark sanctuary declarations can protect sharks and the global ecotourism industry and country-specific sites. Credit: Shawn Heinrichs/Pew

Credit: The Pew Charitable Trusts.

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The Marshall Islands has been home to one of the world's largest shark sanctuaries since 2011. It's an area of the central Pacific Ocean spanning 1,990,530 square kilometers (768,547 square miles)—nearly four times the landmass of California—in which commercial fishing of all sharks is prohibited. This video highlights the importance of the Marshall Islands shark sanctuary and how the government and law enforcement officials have been working to enforce its new laws.

WASHINGTON, May 30, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to a new global analysis led by researchers at the University of British Columbia and other scientists, shark watching is a major economic driver for dozens of countries, generating $314 million annually. Citing the study's projections that shark-related tourism could more than double within 20 years, generating over $780 million annually, The Pew Charitable Trusts is calling for greater protections for sharks through the designation of sanctuaries around the world.

Shark-related tourism is a growing business worldwide, with established operations in at least 83 locations in 29 countries. Although places such as South Africa, the United States, and Australia have typically dominated this industry, shark ecotourism is becoming an economic boon to countries across the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean regions. The study finds that shark watching attracts 590,000 tourists and supports more than 10,000 jobs each year.

The increase in shark ecotourism and its economic value can lead to interest in establishing sanctuaries for sharks, which play a critical role in the health of marine systems. In recent years, nine countries—Palau, the Maldives, Honduras, Tokelau, The Bahamas, the Marshall Islands, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and New Caledonia—have created sanctuaries by prohibiting commercial shark fishing to protect the animals in their waters.

"It's clear that sharks contribute to a healthy marine environment, which is paramount to the long-term social, cultural, and financial well-being of millions of people around the world," says Jill Hepp, director of global shark conservation at Pew. "Many countries have a significant financial incentive to conserve sharks and the places where they live."

In contrast to the growing ecotourism industry, the value of global shark catches has been declining, largely as a result of overfishing. Approximately 100 million sharks are killed every year primarily for their fins, which are used to make shark fin soup, a popular dish in Asia.

The University of British Columbia research, supported by Pew, was published in the academic journal Oryx today.